Taxpayers’ Union And Fairfax Launch Ratepayers’ Report Site

The
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union, in collaboration with
Fairfax Media has today launched “Ratepayers’ Report”
hosted by Stuff.co.nz.

Ratepayers’ Report
builds on the work of local government expert and financial
analyst, Larry Mitchell and his work in previous years
comparing New Zealand’s 67 territorial authorities. The
data was pulled together by the Taxpayers' Union, supplied
to Fairfax Media, has been checked independently and
supplied to councils for viewing before its
publication.

“For the first time, New Zealanders now
have an interactive online tool to compare their local
council to those of the rest of the country,” says Jordan
Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union.
“Ratepayers can visit ratepayersreport.co.nz to compare their local council
including average rates, debt per ratepayer and even CEO
salaries.”

“Liabilities per ratepayer for most New
Zealand councils continues to increase. The most alarming
figure is Auckland at $15,858, three and a half times the
national average of $4,386,” says Mr
Williams.

Ratepayers’ Report also compares, for the
first time, average residential rates. The figure has been
calculated using a methodology developed within the local
government sector to compare average residential rates. Only
Kaipara District Council was unwilling to provide the
Taxpayers’ Union with the average residential rates
information.

Q & A:

What is the
purpose of Ratepayers’ Report?

Ratepayers’ Report
is designed to provide accountability and transparency to
New Zealand ratepayers by allowing them to compare local
territorial authority with others around the
country.

What is the relationship between the
Taxpayers’ Union and Fairfax Media?

Fairfax Media
and the Taxpayers’ Union collaborated to develop
Ratepayers’ Report. The Taxpayers’ Union are responsible
for all of the data for Ratepayers’ Report. Fairfax Media
have retained all editorial independence in relation to the
findings of Ratepayers’ Report.

Where was the data
sourced?

The Taxpayers' Union provided the data in
Ratepayers' Report after reviewing each council's annual
report for the year ended June 30, 2013.

Comparable
figures and trends are taken from the comparable year
earlier. Other figures represent the most up to date figures
available. For example some councils provided the current
full time equivalent number of employees. Others declined to
update the figure as at 30 June (required in law to be
disclosed in each annual report). Population data is from
Statistics New Zealand.

Fairfax Media has taken the
supplied data, had it checked twice and sent it to each
individual authority for further review.

Where did the
group finance figures come from?

They are taken from
each council's latest annual report. It is the council
figures, plus those of all subsidiary companies, council
controlled organisations and similar.

Which councils
are assessed in Ratepayers' Report?

All 67 territorial
authorities are examined in Ratepayers' Report. That
includes all city, district, unitary councils as well as the
Chatham Islands Territory Council. If the process is
repeated next year we plan to incorporate regional councils
into the analysis.

Where did the idea come
from?

Ratepayers' Report is based on the local
government league published by analyst Larry Mitchell since
2010.

New Zealand's grassroots campaign for lower taxes and less government waste

The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union is an independent activist group, dedicated to being the voice for Kiwi taxpayers in the corridors of power. It's here to fight government waste and make sure New Zealanders get value for money from their tax dollar. New Zealanders are invited to join and donate at http://taxpayers.org.nz

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